Machine for forming glass vials



8 Sheets-Sheet l Oct. 169 1928t R., H, KOENIG MACHINE FOR FORMING GLASS VIALS Filed June 4, 192e Oct., 16, 1928. 1,688,190

R. H. KOENIG MACHINE FOR FORMING GLASS VIALS Oct. 16, 1928. I 1,688,190

R. H. KOENIG MACHINE FOR FORMING GLASS VIALS Filed June 4. 1926 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 R. H. KOENIG MACHINE FOR FORMING GLASS VIALS Get. 16, 1928.

Filed June 4. 1926 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 Il. s @l Oct. 16, 1928.

R. H. KOENIG MACHINE FOR FORMING GLASS VIALS Filed June 4. 1926 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Oct. 16, 1928.

R. H. KOENIG MACHINE FOR FORMING GLASS VIALS i:s sneets-sheet 6 Filed June 4. 1926 Oct. 16, 1928. 1,688,190

R. H. KoENlG MACHINE FOR FORMING GLASS VIALS Filed June 4. 1926 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 Q k@ Q @u N Q x k y /wgzz'mef V MQW Oct. 16, 1928.

R. H. KOENIG MACHINE FOR FORMING GLASS VIALS Filed June 4. 1926 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 l Patented Oct 16, 1928.l

ROBERT H. KoEN'IG, 0E HADDQN HEIGHTS, NEW JERSEY, AssreNon To RUTH GLASS COMPANY, 0E coNsHoHocKEN, PENNSYLVANIA, A ooRroEATIoN or PENNSYL- VAN IA.

Application led .Tune 4,

novel and highly advantageous details of construction and mechanism hereinafter clearly described and illustrated in the attached drawings, in which:

Figure `1 is a side elevation of a machine made-in accordance with my invention;

Fig.' 2 is a front elevation of the machine; 3 is a rear elevation of the machine; Fig. 4 is a plan View of the machine; Fig. 5 .is a section on the line 5%5, Fig. 4, showing the details of the conveyer mechanism;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary enlarged plan view illustrating the mechanism for separating the halves 'of the original blank;

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 6; i

Fig. 8 is a view in perspective of the parts shown inFigs. 6 and 7, together with associa'ted elements;

Figs. 9 to 12, inclusive, are diagrammatic views illustrating the operation of the rollers upon the blanks;

. c Fig. 13 is a fragmentary front elevation' illustrating'a device for rounding the closed ends of the vials, and

Fig. 14 is a vertical section through the essential parts of the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 13. 4

Referring to the drawings, the machine comprises a suitable frame 1 including horizontal members 2, 2, see Figs. 4 and 5, to

which are secured bearings 3, 3 for a transverse'shaft 4. pAdjustably secured to thev shaft 4 bymeans in the present instance of set screws 5, see Fig. -5, are a pair of circular disks 6, `6, these disks in the present instance being secu-red respectively to a pair of spiders 7,l `7 which are secured by the aforesaid set screws 5, 5 to ,theshaftt Intermediatethe disks '6, 6 and also secured to MACHINE FOR FORMING GLASS VIALS.

1926. seran No. 113,768.

by a hub element l1l to whic the said disks n 9 are secured by rivets 12. As clearly illustrated, the disks 6, 6 and 9, 9 are of substantially the same diameter, and each is provided` with an,evenly spaced `series of peripheral recesses 13 which extend completely around the peripherie's of the disks. Intermediate each of the disks 6 and the adjacent disk 9 is a circumferentially grooved wheel 14, theseA wheels being of lesser diameter than the disks 6 and 9, but of such size that they extend outwardly beyond the line of the bottoms of the aforesaid recesses 13 in the disks. The rfunction of the drum consisting of the disks 6 and 9 and the wheels 14 will bo described hereinafter.

The shaft 4 carries at one end a worm gear 15, and this gear meshes with a worm 16 upon a shaft 17, see Figs. 1 and 4, which is journaled in bearings 18, 18 'secured to two of the standards of the frame 1. The shaft 17 `carries at one end a sheave 19 which is connected through a belt 21 with a sheave 22 upon a transverse shaft 23, see Fig. 2, which shaft is journaled in bearings 24, 24 also on standards of the frame 1. The shaft 23 carries a sprocket 25. which is operatively` connected through a drive chain 26 with a sprocket 27 upon a transverse shaft 28, which latter parallels the shaft 23 and is journaled in bearings 29, 29 upon the aforesaid standards of the frame 1. The shaft 28 carries a wheel 31 which, as shown in Fig. 1, is connected through a belt 32 with a pulley 33 upon the shaft 34 of an electric motor 35,

the latter being suitably mounted in the present instance upon the frame 1.

Referring again to Figs. 1, 2 and 5, it will be noted that the shaft 23 carries on opposits sides of the sprocket 25 a pair of sheaves 36, 36 which through belts 37, 37 are connected vrespectively to the wheels l14, 14

which as previously described are loosely -mounted upon the shaft 4 between the disks 6 and 9, as shown in Fig. 5. It will now be noted that through the train of mechanism described above, the shaft .4 and with it the disks 6 and 9 are slowly rotated by the motor 35, the wheels 14,114 being also rotated from the same source but ata higher rate of speed. It will further benoted that the recesses`13 in the disks 6 and 9 are 1n substanti-al transverse alignment, althoughv for apurpose hereinafter described the recesses in the disks 9, 9 are slightly displaced rearwardly with res ect to the direction of movement of the dis rs and with relation to the recesses of the disks 6, 6.

Mounted at the rear of the machine upon the. framel and directly behind the disks 6 and 9 is 'a hopper 38 which as shown. in Figs. Y

1 to 4 inclusive consists of two channeled side pieces 39, 39, these as shown in Figs. 3 and 4 being supported in each instance by a pair of bolts 41-42 which projects transversely from and are adjustably supported in uprights 43, 43 on the frame 1. The bolts 41-42 are rigidly secured to the parts 39, 39 of the hopper and project through suitably formed openings in the uprights 43, they being rigidly held in these openings by nuts 44 which bear against the inner faces of the uprights -43 and knurled nuts 45, 45 on the outer extremities which are screwed tight against the outer ,faces of the said uprights. This as will be clear provides for adjustment of the hopper parts 39, 39 toward and from each other to accommodate dierent sized blanks which are placed in j,

the hopper and are adapted by means hereinafter described to be passed one by one intol the recesses 13 in the disks 6 and 9 as the said disks slowly revolve in the manner previously described.

The side pieces 39, 39 of the hopper, as shown-in Fla. 4, are provided with inwardly projecting flanges 46 which support the ends of the blanks (not shown), and these flanges converging downwardly to form a. vertical slot 47 are so proportioned that the vials pass therethrough in single order.- As shown in Figs. l, 3 and 4, the vials are normally retained in the hopper by means of arcuate spaced arms 48, which arms are supported and project forwardly from the upper end of a lever arm 49, whichI as.

shown in Fig. 3 is secured to a transverse f shaft 51 journaled in bearings 51a, y51a in the uprights 43. The shaft 51 carries at one end an arm 52 which is engaged-by the upper end of a rod 53 operatively connected through a suitable strap, 54, see Fig. 3, with an eccentric 55 upon the shaft 17.4 Thel upper end of the rod 53 fits into an inverted cup 56 upon the' end of the arm 52, and the shaft 51 carries a second'arm 57, to the end of which is attached a spring 58 which 1s attached at its opposite en d to an arm 59 on the frame 1 and which is under continuous tension ltending to rotate the shaft 5l `so as to hold'the arm 52 and the cup 56 carried thereby down upon the pin 53. With this arrangement, it will be clear that as the shaft 17 rotates, the shaft 51 will bc oscillated, as also will the arcuate arms 48.

under the vertical slots 47 of the hopper 38r so that the lowermost blank will be deposited in the aforesaid grooves, 61. In Fig. 1, a blank designated by the reference numeral 62 is' indicated as occupying these grooves 61. When the arms 48 are oscillated as previously described, they move forwardly towards the disks `6 and 9, and their u per edges lie closely beneath the bottom o the grooves 47 and thereby support the vials in the hopper. The arms 48, 48 which carry ,at their forward ends the blank 62 in the groove 61 are advanced in this oscillation so as to pass between the respective disks 6 and the adjacent disks 9, and the movement of the disks and of the arms is so relatively timedthat in this forward movement the blank 62 is deposited in the pocket formed by the substantially registering recesses 13I outer faces of the disks 6, 6, as shown in,

Fig. 3. In the present instance the arms 48 are so oscillated that at eachforward movement the disks 6 and 9 have advanced the distance of one recess., If it is desired 'to interrupt the feeding of the blank 62 to the disks, this may be accomplished by means of a hand lever 63 which as shown in Fig. 3 is pivotally connected to one of the uprights 43. This lever has at one side a projecting lug 64 which when the lever is depressed is adapted to engage the upper curved edge'of a lever arm 67 projecting from the shaft 51, as shown in Fig. 1, thereby rocking the shaft to a position in which the arm 52yoccupies an elevated position as shown in Fig. 1 in which position it is not affected by the vertical reciprocatory movement of the pin 53 through the eccentric which actuates it. The arrangement is lsuch as shown in Fig. 1 that when the lever 63 is depressed to a predetermined position it is locked with the arm 67 so that the latter is maintained in the depressed position, rendering this feed mechanism as described above inoperative. When the machine is to continue operation, it 'is only necessary to release the arm 67 by elevating the lever 63, which again permits the shaft 51 to oscillate under the action of the eccentric55.

Located inwardly of the bottoms of the recesses 13 is an arcuate gas burner or series of burners 68 extending circumferentially of the disks and as shown in Fig. 5 occupying a position between the disks 9, 9. The burners are connected through a pipe 69 with .a source of gas, and the arrangement is such that the llame from thc burners assesup and around the middle of the blan is which are` being advanced, as described, by the disks 6 and l9. This is well shown in Fig.. 5.

lll

y ripheries of these wheels 14, 14 which On opposite sides of the rotary conveyer constituted by the disks 6 and 9 and extending upwardly from the frame 1 area pair of uprights 71, 71 which support at their tops the ends of a cross rod 72. This rod constitutes a holder for two sets of three pivoted levers 73,74 and 75, as well shown in Fig. 8, in which but one set of these levers is shown, and the rear extensions of these levers are resiliently supported by springs 76 which are secured at one end to the en s of the levers and extend upwardly to a cross bar 77 which is secured at the tops of bars 78, 78 extending upwardly from the rear# wardly projecting arms 7 9 of the uprights 7l. A second cross bar 8l is adj ustably held on upright studs 82, 82 upon the projecting arms 7 9, and immediately overlie the rear eX- tensions of the levers 73, 74 and 75, as shown in Fig. 8, this bar constituting a stop limiting the upward movement of the rear extensions of the said levers under the tension of the spring 76. This cross bar 81 is adjustable vertically on the studs 82.

The forward endsof the levers 73, 74 and 75 each carries a roller 83, 84 and 85, respectively, and as well illustrated in Figs. 6 to l2, inclusive, these rollers are adapted to bear down by reason of the tension of the springs 76 upon the tube blanks 62 which are advanced under the rollers by the movement of the disks G' and 9 which support these blanks. The respective sets of rollers 83, 84 and 85 engage these blanks as well illustrated intermediate each of the disks 6 and its adjacent disk 9, leaving that. portion of the blanks extending between the two disks 9 unobstructed for action of the fiame from the burner or burners 68.

y As shown in Fig. 1, the rollers 83, 84 and 85 engage the blanks at a point well beyond the point where the blanks in their movement with the disks are first brought into contact with the flame of the said burner so that by the time the blanks have approached to the position of the rollers 83, 84 and 85, the blanks have been brought to a desired temperature.

As previously described, the peripheries of the wheels 14 project beyond the bottoms of the recesses 13 which the blanks 62 occupy so that the blanks actually rest upon the ee.- ing revolved as previously set forth ata higher rate of speed than the disks 6 and 9 effect a continuous rotation of the blanks in the recesses whereby the blanks are uniformly affected on all sides by the flame of the burners. Also as previously set forth, the recesses 13 in the disks 9 lie slightly behind the transverse line of the respective sets of recesses in the disks 6 so that during the initial movement of the blanks to the position where they are engaged by the roller 83, the blanks contact only with the rear edges of the recesses 13 of the disks 6 and have no contact with the disks 9. TWhen the blanks have reached the roller 83, their mid portions as previously described are heatel to a desired high temperature whereby engagement of the blank by the rollers 83 causes the blank to bend at the center until the blank meets the rear edges of the recesses 1.3 of thel disks 9. This is well illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7, which show a portion of one of the disks 6 with its associated disk 9 and with blanks 62 carried thereby approaching the position of the rollers 83, 84 and 85. In this case, the disks are advancing in the direction of the arrows and the foremost of the blanks 62 has come into contact with the rollers 83. As a result of this contact, the glass blank which has been softened at its mid point by action of the burners 68 is bent rearwardly at its mid point until as shown the blank engages the rear edges of the recesses 13 of' the disks 9. Prior to engaging the roller 83, the blank as illustrated extends in a straight line between the disks 6, 6 and does not engage the rear edge of the recesses 13 in the disks 9.

In Figs. 9 to 12 I have shown the successive movements of the rollers 83, 84 and 85 as the blanks are carried thereunder. It will be noted that as the forward movement of the blanks continues, vthe roller 83 as shown in Fig. 9 is elevated, this being permitted by the pivotal mounting of the lever 73 upon the rod 72, as previously described, and the resiliency' of the springs 76 which support the rear of the lever, and the blank then comes into contact with the roller 84. During this part of the movement, it will be apparent that the blank is held snugly against the rear edges of the recess 13 which it occupies. At the same time there is a continual tendency by reason of the inclination of the opposite sides of the blank as previously described and by reason of the continued rotation of the blanks through the wheels 14 in conjun'ctionwith the pressure of the-rollers 83, 84 and 85 upon the blanks to cause the ends of the blanks to move outwardly away from each other, and by reason of this opposite movement of the ends of the blanks,

the latter are parted in the middle at the point softened by the heat of the burners. Continued rotation of the blanks as described results in a natural closing of the inner ends of the separated halves of the original blank with a smooth flat closure substantially at right angles with the longitvu` dinal aXis of the blank. In order to properly position thevblanks on the conveyer disks,

provide at opposite sides of the latter as shown in the various figures stationary vcrtical flanges 86, 86, and opposite the rollers 83, 84 and 85, these Hanges as shown in Fig. 4 are arched outwardly from their normal plane sufficiently to permit outward movement of the halves of the ends of the blank sullicient to insure the parting at their mid sections.

Returning to Figs 9 to 12, inclusive, it will be noted that the blanks are successively engaged by the rollers 83, 84 and 85 in such manner as to retain the blank snugly against the rear edges of the recesses 13 as previously described and to prevent the pressure of the rollers on the rear sides of the blanks from forcing the blank against the forward edges of said recesses as the disks carry the blank under the wheel. In order to prevent this forward projection of the blank b v the roller 85 which is the last one to engage the blanks, I provide means for maintaining this roller in an elevated position fora moment after the blanks pass under the center thereof so that there is no tendency of this wheel, due to the tension of the spring at the rear end of the lever which carries the roller, to project the blank forwardly in the recesses which it occupies. This mechanism which is adequately illustrated in Figs. 3 and 8 includes a lever 87 which is journaled at one end upon the rod 72 intermediate the sets of levers 73, 74 and 75, and extends rearwardly from said bar, see Fig. 8. The lever 87 carries a transverse bar 89 which projects on' opposite sides of the lever and whose projecting ends are offset as shown in Fig. 8 so that they are elevated clear of the rear ends of the levers 73 and 74 but lie in operative relation with the rear end of the lever 7 5. The arrangement is such that depression of the lever 87 results iny a corresponding depression of the rear end of the lever and consequent corresponding elevation of the rollers 85. The lever 87 is periodically depressed by means of av lever 91 pivotally se- `cured at 92`to one of the uprights 43 of the is such that with the rotation of this shaft 17, the connecting rod 93 is vertically reciprocated and the lever 91 correspondingly oscillated. The inner end of the lever 91 directly overlies the lever 87, and the movement of the lever 91 is so timed with relation to the movement of the conveyer disks 6 and 9 that at the proper moments the rollers 85l are elevated as previosly described and as illustrated in Fig. 12. This elevation of the roller releases the blanks 62 and permits them to move by gravity in the conveyer recesses 13 until they lie against the forward edgesof the latter. It will be noted that the burner 68 extends forwardly of the position of the rollers 83, 84 and 85 whereby the heating of the blanks is continued after the blanks are released by said roller.

As the divided blanks are advanced with the conveyer disks, it will be noted that .the inclination of the blanks due to the lack of exact registration between the recesses 13 of the disks 6 and the respective cooperating disks 9 tends to retain the blanks against the inner faces of the fianges 86 and precludes.v

the possibility of their moving inwardly towards each other. In the continued advance movement of the blanks, the latter are brought into contact with a pair of fixed inclined arms 96 whose upper ends project inwardly between the associated pairs of disks 6 and 9, and with the advance movement of the blanks lift the latter from the recesses 13 and cause them to fall by gravity into suitable containers 97 supported below the lower ends of the arms 96, as shown in Fig. 1.

In some instances, it may be desired to provide the vials with rounded bottoms instead of fiat, and for this purpose I provide the mechanism illustrated in Figs. 1, 4, 13 and 14. This mechanism comprises a bracket 98 on one or both of the side anges 86, as the case may be, at a point intermediate the burner 68 and the point of discharge at the arms 96. This bracket 98 holds a pivoted lever 99 which projects inwardly over the top of the flange 86 and carries at its inner end a blank-retaining element in the form of a vertical plunger 101 having at its lower end a pad 102 which is adapted to engage the top of the blanks, there being a spring 103 intermediate the under side of the forward end of the lever 99 and the pad 102 which tends to force the plunger 101 with the pad 102 downwardly and resiliently against the blanks. The bracket further comprises a cylinder 1'04 which carries a plunger 105 adapted to project'through an aperture 106 in the flange 86, and this plun ger carries at its forward end a rounded extension 107 adapted to snugly fit within the said blank 62. As the plunger 105 is advanced in the cylinder, as hereinafter described, this extension 107 is adapted to enter the open end of the blank, as illus- -trated in Fig. 14, and by reason of the air pressure exerted, to force the closed end of the blank, still soft from the effects of the heat treatment, to the desired rounded form. As shown, the extension 107 is provided with a longitudinal channel 108 which vcommunicates at its inner end with a valve chamber 109 in which a suitable check valve in the form in the present instance of a ball 111 is located. This ball is adapted to effectively close a channel 112 in the plunger 105, which channel is in direct communication -with the atmosphere, and the arrangement is such that on the forward movement of the extension 107 into the blank the valve 111 closes the channel 112 and thereby maintains the air pressure within the blank in front of the plunger extension 107. When the extension 107 is withdrawn by a retractive movement of the plunger 105,. the valve 111 automatically opens to permit the passage of air amiga the channels 112 and 10s into the y The plunger is continually under the tension of a spring 113 secured at one end to the cylinder 1 04 and at the other end to a pin 114 projecting from the plunger 105 through a longitudinal slot 115 in the cylinder 104, this spring tending continually to retract the plunger 105. The forward movement of the plunger is obtained through an actuating lever which is pivotally secured at 117 to a fixed part of the frame and which is operatively associated with a cam 118 upon the shaft 17, see Figs. 1 and 13. That end of the lever 116 which operatively engages thecam 118A is resiliently held against the face of the cam by means of a spring 119. The cam edects a periodic oscillation of the lever 116 such that when the blanks are in alignment with the aperture 106 in the flange 86, the upper end of the arm 16 is advanced against the projecting end of the plunger 105,

thereby forcing the plunger inwardly and causing the extension 107 to enter the open end of the blank as previously described, rllhe arm 116 in its forward movement engages the rear inclined` end of the lever 99, thereby forcing the said rear end of the lever upwardly and bringing the forward end of the lever with the plunger 101 downwardly so that the pad 102 engages the top of the blank and holds it firmly in position during the advance movement of the plunger extension 107. It will be understood that the movement of the plunger 105 is a very rapid one which doesnot interfer'ewith the slow forward movement of the disks 6 and 9, a-certain amount of play being provided for the blank within the recesses 13 by reason of the superior width of the latter as compared with the diameter of the blank. l

It will be noted that the anges 86 are held on brackets 121 which are longitudinally slotted, as indicated at 122 in Fig. 4, and which are .secured to the frame 1 by means of studs 123 extending upwardly through the slots and by'knurled nuts -124 which are threaded on the studs and which 1 normally bear down against the tops of the brackets to hold them rigid with the frame. This method of mounting the lan es provides for transverse adjustment or different lengths of blanks.

1. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a continuouslyl advancing conveyer for tubular glass blanks comprising a seriesy of parallel disks having substantially aligned peripheral recesses adapted to receive said blanks, a burner located adjacent the path of theblanks when advanced by said dlsks and adapted to heat the blanks intermediate their, ends, and

means for drawing the blanks apart at the heated section including movable elements adapted to engage the tops of the blanks as `they are advanced by said conveyer.

2. In a machine of the character'described, the combination with an endless conveyer comprising at least four disks having reg.

istering peripheral recesses adapted `to receive tubular glass blanks, the recesses of the two inner disks being slightly offset rearwardly with respect to the direction of'movement of the disks and with reference to the .recesses of the two outer disks, means for heating the blanks intermediate the said inner disks, and movable contact elements adapted to engage the tops of said blanks and to exert thereon a frictional contact tendingvto retard the movement of the blanks with the conveyer.

3. In amachine of the character described, the combination with an endless conveyer comprising at least four disks having registering peripheral recesses adapted to receive tubular glass blanks, the recesses of the two inner disks being slightly offset rearwardly with'respect to the direction of movement of the disks and with reference to the recesses ofthe two outer disks, means for heating the blanks intermediate the said inner disks, movable contact elements adapted to engage the tops of. said blanks and to exert thereon a frictional contact tending to retard the movement of the blanks with the con veyer, and means limitino the longitudinal movement of said blanks 1n the conveyer.

4. In a machine of the character described, the vcombination with an endless conveyer comprising `at least four disks having registering peripheral recesses adapted to receive tubular glass blanks, the recesses of the two inner disks being slightly offset rearwardly with respect to the direction of movement of the disks and with reference to the recesses of the two outer disks, means for heating the blanks intermediate the said inner disks, movable contact'elements adapted to engage the tops of said blanks., and to exert thereon a frictional- Contact tending to retard the movement' of the blanks with the conveyer, and means for' continuously rotating the blanks about their own axes in the conveyer.

5. In a machine of the character described,

advance upon the conveyer and adapted successively to engage the tops of each of said blanks at points intermediate the heated section and the extremities.

6, In a machine of the character described, the combination With an endless conveyer comprising a Wheel including at least four parallel disks having registering peripheral recesses adapted to hold tubular glass blanks, means for heating said blanks intermediate the inner disks during the progressive` movement of the latter, means also operative during said progressive movement for separating the said blanks at the heated section including a plurality of disks arranged in the path of said blanks as they advance upon the conveyer and adapted successively to engage the tops ot each of said blanks at points intermediate the heated section and the eX- tremities, and means for elevating the lastengaging rotary element from the highest point of each of said blanks.

7. In a machine of the character described, the combination with an endless conveyer consisting of a Wheel comprising a pair of inner parallel disks having registering peripheral recesses, a pair of outer parallel disks also'having registering peripheral recesses, the recesses of the inner disks also registering with the recesses of the outer disks but lying slightly behind the recesses of the outer disks with respect to the direction of movement of said disks, means for feeding tubular glass blanks to said registering recesses, means for heating the blanks intermediate the two inner disks during their progressive movement on the conveyer,v movable elements arranged in the path ot said blanks and adapted to engage the tops of the blanks at points on both sides of the heated section, and means for rotating the blanks about their own axes.

8. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a conveyer comprising a rotary member having peripheral recesses adapted to retain tubular blanks, said recesses being arranged so that one end of the blank is slightly in advance of the other in the direction omovement, means for rotating the blanks continuously in the conveyer, and movable means adapted to engage the tops of said blanks as they are advanced with the conveyer.

9. In a machine of the character described, the combination With a conveyer comprising a rotary member having peripheral recesses adapted to retain tubular blanks, said recesses being arranged so that one end of the. blank is slightly in advance of the other in the direction of movement, means for rotating the blanks continuously in the conveyer, and rotary means adapted to engage the tops of said blanks as they are advanced with the conveyer.

10. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a conveyer comprising a rotary member having peripheral recesses adapted to retain tubular blanks; said recesses being arranged; so that one end ofthe blank is slightly in advance of the other in the direction of movement, means for rotating the blanks continuously in the conveyer, and a plurality or rotary elements arranged in the path of said blanks as they are advance on the conveyer and adapted to successively engage each of said blanks.

11. In a machine of the character described, the combination Witli a conveyer comprising a rotary member having peripheral recesses adapted to retain tubular blanks, said recesses being arranged so that one end of the blank is slightly in advance of the other in the direction of movement, means for rotating the blanks continuously in the conveyer, and a plurality of freely rotating members resiliently held in the ath of said blanks as they are advanced on t e conveyer and'adapted to successively engage the top of each of said blanks.

12. In al machine of the character described, the combination Wit-h a conveyer comprising a rotary member having peripheral recesses adapted to retain tubular blanks, said recesses being arranged so that one end of the blank is slightly in advance of the other in the direction of movement, means for'rotating the blanks continuously in the conveyer, and a rotarymember resiliently held in the path of said blanks as they are advanced on the conveyer.

13. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a conveyer. comprisinga rotary member having peripheral recesses adapted to retain tubular blanks, said recesses being arranged so that one end of the blank is slightly in advance of the other in the direction of movement,

means for rotating the blanks continuously in the conveyer, and a rotary disk arranged in the plane of said rotary conveyer and resiliently held in the path of said blanks as they are advanced on the conveyer.

14:. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a conveyer comprising a rotary member having peripheral recesses adapted to retain tubular blanks, said recesses being arranged so that one end of .the blank is slightly in advance of the other inthe direction of movement, means for rotating the blanks continuously in the conveyer, a plurality of rotary elements resiliently heldin the path of said blanks as they are advanced on the conveyer and adapted successively to engage the top of cach of said blanks, and meansfor elevating the rotary element last engaging any of the blanks as it passes over the top of said blank.

15. In a machine o'l'- the character described, the combination with a conveyer comprising a rotary member having peripheral recesses adapted to retain tubular blanks, said recesses being arranged so that one end of the blank is slightly in advance of the other in the direction of movement, means for rotat'ng the blanks continuouslyin the conveyer, a plurality of rotary elements resiliently held in the path of the blanks moving with the conveyer and adapted to move over the tops of said blanks, said members being so positioned as to successively engage the blanks and to ma'ntain the blanks at the rear end'of the recesses which they occupy, and means for preventing the return downward movement of the rotary member last contacting with the respective blanks after its elevation by the latter until the blank has moved to a position beyond the saidmember,

16. In a machine of the character described, the combination with an endless conveyer havinor recesses for the reception of tubular blanks, a hopper for said blanks adjacent the conveyer, means for conducting the blanks from the hopper and depositing them in the recesses of said conveyer, and means for interrupting the feeding of said blanks from the hopper to the conveyer without interrupting the operation of said conveyer.

17. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a continuously advancing conveyer comprising two pairs of spaced parallel disks having periphe'ral recesses and arranged side by side so that blanks in the recesses, means for heating the blanks at a point intermediate the pairs of disks, and means for drawing ,the blank apart at the heated sectionr and on the said conveyer including said movable supporting members and movable elements adapted to engage the tops of said blanks on both sides of said heated section.

18. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a conveyer for tubular blanks, of means for heating one end of said blanks, means for holding the blanks on the conveyer, a plunger adapted for insertion in and to neatly fit the unheated end of said blank, and means for actuating said plunger to enter said blanks.

19. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a conveyer for tubular blanks, of means for heating one end of said blanks, means for holding the blanks on the conveyer, a plun er adapted for insertion in and to neatly t the unheated end of said blank and having a longitudinal port, a valve operating to close thel port on the advance movement of the plunger into the blank and to open the port on the retractive movement, and means for actuating the plunger in and out of said blanks.

L ROBERT H. KOENIG'. 

